Method and apparatus for the formation of pieces of ice

ABSTRACT

A reliable method for producing and storing ice pieces includes a liquid feeding device dosing liquid to be frozen in a freezer container, the liquid feeding device being in contact with the liquid after it has been introduced. As soon as the liquid is frozen or the ice piece is formed, the liquid feeding device moves to the top, whereby the adherent ice piece is displaced against a scraper. Simultaneously, a chute is moved over the freezer container so that the lower end of the chute is disposed such that the ice piece(s) slides from the chute and falls into a collecting container after it has separated and fallen from the liquid feeding device. Additionally, a cover of the collecting container can be opened during the movement of the chute.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP01/13844, filed Nov. 27, 2001, which designated the United States and was not published in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the formation of pieces of ice with a freezing container, coolable by a cooling device, for receiving a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed, with a liquid feed device for feeding the liquid into the freezing container and with a collecting container for formed pieces of ice.

[0003] Methods and apparatuses for the formation of pieces of ice are already known, but are comparatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for the formation of pieces of ice that overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that obtain the formation of pieces of ice and their storage with simple measures.

[0005] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an apparatus for forming pieces of ice, including a freezing container for receiving a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed. A cooling device is operatively connected to the freezing container for cooling at least one of the freezing container and the liquid in the freezing container. A liquid feed device communicates with the freezing container for feeding the liquid into the freezing container. The liquid feed device has a stripping location at which pieces of ice adhering to the liquid feed device are stripped off, is in contact with the liquid in the freezing container after the liquid has been fed into the freezing container, and is moveably disposed with respect to the freezing container and moving away from the freezing container when formed pieces of ice are stripped off from the stripping location. A collecting container is operatively connected to the freezing container for holding formed pieces of ice. The collecting container has an orifice. A stripping device at least one of mechanically and by a supply of heat strips off, when the liquid feed device is moved away, the pieces of ice adhering to the stripping location. A shoot has a portion and a lower end, the lower end of the shoot being disposed with respect to the orifice to permit pieces of ice slipping down the shoot to fall into the collecting container and being operatively connected to the liquid feed device and moving into a receiving position in which the shoot lies with the portion below the stripping location when the liquid feed device is moved away.

[0006] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the collecting container has a cover operatively connected to the liquid feed device to open when the liquid feed device is moved away.

[0007] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the liquid feed device communicates with a metering device metering the liquid.

[0008] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the stripping device heats for stripping the pieces of ice.

[0009] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, there is provided a further cooling device, the cooling device being a Peltier element having first and second thermal ends, the first thermal end being connected thermally to the freezing container, and the second thermal end being connected thermally to the further cooling device.

[0010] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, there is provided a heating device coupled to the freezing container.

[0011] In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the cooling device is a cooling/heating device coupled to the freezing container.

[0012] In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the cooling device is a heating device coupled to the freezing container.

[0013] In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the collecting container is coupled thermally to the freezing container.

[0014] In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the cover and/or the collecting container have heat insulation.

[0015] With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for forming pieces of ice, including the steps of providing a collecting container for holding formed pieces of the ice, the collecting container having an orifice, feeding a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed into a freezing container with a liquid feed device, cooling at least one of the liquid and the freezing container with a cooling device, contacting the liquid feed device with the liquid in the freezing container after the liquid has been fed into the freezing container, and extracting the formed pieces of ice into the collecting container by moving away the liquid feed device from the freezing container and, when the liquid feed device is moved away, stripping off pieces of ice adhering to the liquid feed device at least one of mechanically and by the supply of heat, moving a shoot into a position in which the shoot lies with a portion thereof below a location at which pieces of the ice adhering to the liquid feed device are stripped off, and placing a lower end of the shoot with respect to the orifice to guide the pieces of ice slipping down the shoot into the collecting container.

[0016] In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the liquid is metered with a metering device connected to the liquid feed device.

[0017] In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, the freezing container is heated before the liquid feed device is moved away.

[0018] The advantages capable of being achieved by the invention are, in addition to a robust construction, particularly that it is necessary to have only one drive, by which, in one operation, both the removal of the formed piece of ice from the freezing container and its conveyance into the collecting container can be achieved. The heating of the freezing container to make it easier to extract a formed piece of ice can be achieved particularly advantageously by a Peltier element as a cooling device because, in such a case, a heating of the freezing container can be achieved simply by a reversal of the current.

[0019] Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0020] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and apparatus for the formation of pieces of ice, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

[0021] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for forming pieces of ice according to the invention; and

[0023]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 during the extraction of the piece of ice and the conveyance of the formed piece of ice into a collecting container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a cooling device 2 in the form of a Peltier element and also a freezing container 3 for receiving a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed. A liquid feed device 4 projects into the freezing container 3 and, after the liquid has been fed into the freezing container 3, is in contact with the liquid in the freezing container 3. The liquid feed device 4 has a tube that is connected at its upper end, through a line (indicated with dashes), to a liquid metering device 21. The metering device 21, by the liquid feed device 4, meters the liquid to be frozen in a quantity that corresponds to the volume of the freezing container 3.

[0025] The liquid feed device 4 is fastened to a slide 14 that is mounted displaceably on a rail 15. The slide 14 has, furthermore, an internal thread, into which engages a spindle 16 driven by a motor 17. The spindle 16 runs parallel to the rail 15, so that the slide 14 can be displaced along the rail 15 as a result of a rotation of the spindle 16.

[0026] Furthermore, the liquid feed device 4 is associated with a stripping device 6 that strips off ice adhering to the liquid feed device 4 or at least one adhering piece of ice 1 from the liquid feed device 4 mechanically and/or by the supply of heat. The stripping device 6 may be equipped so as to be heatable. The stripping device 6, consequently, makes it possible to release ice in a simple way.

[0027] The freezing container 3 is connected thermally to a thermal end of the Peltier element 2 that is connected thermally at the other thermal end to a further cooling device 9. The further cooling device 9 is maintained at a defined temperature by a cooling liquid, for example, water, being led through. For cooling the freezing container 3, the Peltier element 2 is acted upon by a current flux such that the thermal end connected to the freezing container 3 is cooled and the thermal end connected to the further cooling device 9 is heated. As a result, heat energy is extracted from the freezing container 3 and is supplied at a higher temperature level to the further cooling device 9 in which the heat energy is finally absorbed from the cooling liquid and discharged. Furthermore, conversely, simply by reversing the current flowing through the Peltier element 2, a heating of the freezing container 3 is possible, in which case heat is extracted from the cooling liquid flowing through the further cooling device 9.

[0028] The freezing container 3 is disposed next to a collecting container 5 for formed pieces of ice 1. The collecting container 5 is closed at the top by two covers 8, 19 in each case mounted pivotably. The two covers 8, 19 and the wall 18 of the collecting container 5 are equipped with heat insulation to keep the formed pieces of ice 1 cool. Furthermore, on the inside of the collecting container 5, a heat-conducting plate 10 is provided, which is in thermal contact with the freezing container 3. The interior of the collecting container 5 can, thereby, be cooled by the Peltier element 2, present in any case so that the pieces of ice 1 located in the collecting container 5 can be stored for a long time.

[0029] So that formed pieces of ice 1 can be conveyed into the collecting container 5, furthermore, a shoot 7 is provided, which is mounted pivotably at its upper end. The shoot 7 is connected to two control bars 11 and 12, by which the movements of the shoot 7, of the cover 8 of the collecting container 5, and of the liquid feed device 4 can be connected operatively to one another.

[0030] For such a purpose, the slide 14 has fastened to it an actuating cam 13 that, during an upward movement of the slide 14, tilts the control bar 12 into a vertical position. By virtue of such tilting movement, the shoot 7 and the control bar 11, which are both disposed below the center of rotation, are moved to the left with respect to the view of FIG. 1. In such a case, the control bar 11 presses against a cover cam 20, which is connected to the cover 8 of the collecting container 5, and, thereby, opens the cover 8. During this movement, the shoot 7 is brought into a position in which one portion lies below the stripping device 6 and the lower end of the shoot 7 is pivoted over the freezing container 3 and is moved into the vicinity of the open access orifice of the collecting container 5.

[0031] For the formation of pieces of ice, the slide 14 and the control cam 13 fastened it are brought into their lower position. In the lower position, the lower end of the liquid feed device 4 is located within the freezing container 3. Furthermore, in the lower position, the control bar 12 is tilted to the left (with respect to the view of FIG. 1) and the shoot 7 and the control bar 11 are tilted to the right. The shoot 7 is, thus, located next to the freezing container 3 or to the space located thereabove. In such a position, the cover 8 is, also, closed.

[0032] Subsequently, in the lower position, a defined quantity of the liquid to be frozen is metered into the freezing container 3 by the metering device 21 through the liquid feed device 4. To form a piece of ice, the Peltier element 2 is acted upon by current such that the freezing container 3 is cooled, the heat arising being absorbed by the cooling liquid in the further cooling device 9. After the liquid in the freezing container 3 is frozen or the piece of ice 1 is formed, first, the Peltier element 2 is operated with a reversed current direction by a non-illustrated control device so that the freezing container 3 is briefly heated and the formed piece of ice 1 is briefly defrosted in the latter at the surface of contact with the freezing container 3. At the same time, the motor 17 is activated and moves the slide 14 upward as a result of rotation of the spindle 16. As a result, the liquid feed device 4, to which the formed piece of ice 1 adheres or is frozen tight, is also moved upward. In addition, during such movement, the control bar 12 is tilted to the right by the control cam 13. As a result, on one hand, the control bar 11 tilts to the left and, by the cover cam 20, lifts the cover 8 counter to gravitational force and, on the other hand, the shoot 7 tilts under the stripping device 6.

[0033] As soon as the formed piece of ice 1 has reached the stripping device 6, as illustrated in position A of FIG. 2, the ice 1 is stripped off from the liquid feed device 4 by the stripping device 6 and falls downward. The ice 1 strikes the shoot 7 there and, as illustrated in position B, slips under the raised cover 8 and into the collecting container 5.

[0034] Subsequently, the slide 14 is moved downward again. As a result, the shoot 7 is tilted rearward again, the cover 8 closes again, and the lower end of the liquid feed device 4 is, once again, disposed within the freezing container 3.

[0035] To strip off the formed piece of ice 1 by the supply of heat, there may be provision for the stripping device 6 to be heatable and for the heat to be capable of being discharged to the liquid feed device 4. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for forming pieces of ice, comprising: a freezing container for receiving a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed; a cooling device operatively connected to said freezing container for cooling at least one of said freezing container and the liquid in said freezing container; a liquid feed device communicating with said freezing container for feeding the liquid into said freezing container, said liquid feed device: having a stripping location at which pieces of ice adhering to said liquid feed device are stripped off; being in contact with the liquid in said freezing container after the liquid has been fed into said freezing container; and being moveably disposed with respect to said freezing container and moving away from said freezing container when formed pieces of ice are stripped off from said stripping location; a collecting container operatively connected to said freezing container for holding formed pieces of ice, said collecting container having an orifice; a stripping device at least one of mechanically and by a supply of heat stripping off, when said liquid feed device is moved away, the pieces of ice-adhering to said stripping location; and a shoot: having a portion and a lower end, said lower end of said shoot being disposed with respect to said orifice to permit pieces of ice slipping down said shoot to fall into said collecting container; and being operatively connected to said liquid feed device and moving into a receiving position in which said shoot lies with said portion below said stripping location when said liquid feed device is moved away.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collecting container has a cover operatively connected to said liquid feed device to open when said liquid feed device is moved away.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid feed device communicates with a metering device metering the liquid.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stripping device heats for stripping the pieces of ice.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a further cooling device; and said cooling device being a Peltier element having first and second thermal ends, said first thermal end being connected thermally to said freezing container, and said second thermal end being connected thermally to said further cooling device.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating device coupled to said freezing container.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling device is a cooling/heating device coupled to said freezing container.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling device is a heating device coupled to said freezing container.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collecting container is coupled thermally to said freezing container.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said cover and said collecting container have heat insulation.
 11. An apparatus for forming pieces of ice, comprising: a freezing container for receiving a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed; a cooling device operatively connected to said freezing container for cooling at least one of said freezing container and the liquid in said freezing container; a liquid feed device communicating with said freezing container for feeding the liquid into said freezing container, said liquid feed device: having a stripping location at which pieces of ice adhering to said liquid feed device are stripped off; being in contact with the liquid in said freezing container after the liquid has been fed into said freezing container; and being moveably disposed with respect to said freezing container and moving away from said freezing container when formed pieces of ice are stripped off from said stripping location; a collecting container operatively connected to said freezing container for holding formed pieces of ice, said collecting container having an orifice; means for stripping off the pieces of ice adhering to said stripping location at least one of mechanically and by a supply of heat when said liquid feed device is moved away; and a shoot: having a portion and a lower end, said lower end of said shoot being disposed with respect to said orifice to permit pieces of ice slipping down said shoot to fall into said collecting container; and being operatively connected to said liquid feed device and moving into a receiving position in which said shoot lies with said portion below said stripping location when said liquid feed device is moved away.
 12. A method for forming pieces of ice, which comprises: providing a collecting container for holding formed pieces of the ice, the collecting container having an orifice; feeding a liquid from which at least one piece of ice is to be formed into a freezing container with a liquid feed device; cooling at least one of the liquid and the freezing container with a cooling device; contacting the liquid feed device with the liquid in the freezing container after the liquid has been fed into the freezing container; and extracting the formed pieces of ice into the collecting container by: moving away the liquid feed device from the freezing container; and when the liquid feed device is moved away; stripping off pieces of ice adhering to the liquid feed device at least one of mechanically and by the supply of heat; moving a shoot into a position in which the shoot lies with a portion thereof below a location at which pieces of the ice adhering to the liquid feed device are stripped off; and placing a lower end of the shoot with respect to the orifice to guide the pieces of ice slipping down the shoot into the collecting container.
 13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises metering the liquid with a metering device connected to the liquid feed device.
 14. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises heating the freezing container before the liquid feed device is moved away. 